In this address, the author examines the complex scope of reading achievement, instruction, and research in the United States. The discussion begins with a historical perspective, continues with views of the development of reading as a science and as a profession, and concludes with a discussion of current and future developments in the reading field. Finally, she states that in the future, emphasis should be placed less on stable structures and more on the maneuverability and flexibility of humans--teachers, clinicians, and children--who must make the adjustments to the unexpected turbulances and complexities of even the smallest classroom. (JM)